Another dating / chat scam - USA/ Nigeria connection

Last week I got contacted via my profile on a dating web site. The person had a temporary profile only with no picture posted and sent me a one-liner including her yahoo address and she asked me to add her on the yahoo messenger.

I was bored so I fulfilled her request.

Her profile had said she was from Illinois, USA. I live in California. Once we chat on Y! messenger, she says she just left Madrid/ Spain and is in West Africa now.

Supposedly she works for a diamond company which is owned by her step dad. She lives with her daughter since her husband (or kids father, I do not recall) left her after the kid was born. Here are her photos - I am not quite sure that they are really HER photos:

She also tells me that she is on bad terms with her step dad since he asked her for sex. (If that's her real photos, I might ask her for sex also.)
During the chat she was kind of evasive, did not answer my questions but instead asked me questions herself. After about 30 minutes she said she'd have to leave West Africa soon and wants to come to the Bay Area (which is why she had written me) and whether she could stay at my place for a week or two until she had gotten herself a place.

She wanted to see photos of my house (I mailed her two).

During the following week we briefly chatted maybe 3 times. No deep conversation, this woman does not spell well, and obviously does half a dozen chats parallel.

I asked her to visit a web site that I host so that I could trap her IP number. It was 196.3.62.4

I used two different tools (web sites) to identify the location she was coming from. Most web sites reported this IP as in London, UK. One web site located it as CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI.

Note:
If you ever want to do this kind of check, grab the IP number from email headers and use a web site like www.ip2location.com on it. You need to make your email program or web client display all headers, to see the 'Originating IP'. Yahoo's email client offers this. I do not know about AOL or hotmail.

She claims to be on AOL (which I found strange, does AOL offer service in West Africa?)

Yesterday she started talking how her step-dad does not send the money he is supposed to send. A kind of allowance instead of a paycheck. Don't ask me for an explanation of this concept.

I did not like to hear her talk about bills that she cannot pay. I'm kind of allergic to this talk when I know a person from 60 minutes of chatting only :-)

Anyway, today she asked me directly to Western Union her the money, $750. As I am posting this, I am still chatting with her. A copy of today's chat is below.

(myself): hello?
Joy Johnson: i was unable to get u the number cos the phone network was bad
Joy Johnson: i was thinking of geting my self a foone
(myself): is it worth it when you're leaving soon?
Joy Johnson: No...thats the problem
(myself): can you do me a favor? Click on this?
http://www.ptiemann.com/
(myself): and then, what's the prob - you cannot leave?
Joy Johnson: i dont understand this whole thing
(myself): what thing?
Joy Johnson: what u talking about]
Joy Johnson: the webpage
(myself): oh
Joy Johnson: or what?
(myself): i didn't meant that you actually read it
(myself): i just wanted to see if it loads properly now
(myself): sorry
Joy Johnson: ok
(myself): are you home?
(myself): i mean.. in the hotel
Joy Johnson: hotel
Joy Johnson: yeah.i just wsanted to know if u will be sending me some cash
(myself): how?
Joy Johnson: western union ....u know any western union around u
(myself): and which w.u. are you at?
(myself): do i need a city/ office number?
Joy Johnson: No u dont i will give u the whole infou need
Joy Johnson: you can send the money in the hotels managers name
(myself): well, what's the hotel's name then? and/or the manager's name
(myself): sorry for the huge font
Joy Johnson: Receivers Name:Mercy Gray
Address:12 hotel road.
City/state:lagos
Country:Nigeria
Zipcode/city code:23401
Amount:$750
Western union security question and answer:
Qfavourite colour
Aink
Joy Johnson: Receivers Name:Mercy Gray
Address:12 hotel road.
City/state:lagos
Country:Nigeria
Zipcode/city code:23401
Amount:$750
Western union security question and answer:
Qfavourite colour
A: Pink
Joy Johnson: thats the ifo
(myself): ok
Joy Johnson: info
Joy Johnson: do u know western union agent location
(myself): here in my area?
(myself): not from the top of my head
Joy Johnson: yes.do u
(myself): i need to look
Joy Johnson: u can give me your address i will find one for u
(myself): don't worry
(myself): i can find it
Joy Johnson: how will u do that
(myself): google
(myself): so how do i know you are really joy johnson
and not just someone making up things?
Joy Johnson: Babe can u just trust me and u see me once i get
to the bay area cos i will foward u my flight info
(myself): how much $ do you need anyway?
Joy Johnson: :$750
(myself): what is the company's name that you work for?
Joy Johnson: i told u yesterday united gemstones.........u dont
need it to send it ok
Joy Johnson: babe trust me
(myself): oh right, i could not find anything on the web
about 'united gemstones' either, but they are in Lagos, maybe that helps
Joy Johnson: dont worry just to western union agent location
Joy Johnson: ok
Joy Johnson: what cirt are u in the bay area
(myself): capitola
Joy Johnson: ok.hold
Joy Johnson: is this ur zip code 95010
Joy Johnson: ???
BUZZ!!!
Joy Johnson: joyee201: is this ur zip code 95010
joyee201: ???
Joy Johnson: are u there???
(myself): yes
(myself): 95010
Joy Johnson: ok
Joy Johnson: 1475 41ST AVENUE
Joy Johnson: do u know this address
(myself): Sorry Joy, I just don't believe that you are in
Lagos, Nigeria. I think you're in London, England
Joy Johnson: peter u r so funny
(myself): and yes, that Western Union on 41st Avenue is only
a few minutes from me.. what's funny?
Joy Johnson: cos u said i am in england....maybe next year i should
go to london
Joy Johnson: u mean u have that location close to u
Joy Johnson: ????
(myself): yes, that western union.. maybe a quarter
mile from my house
(myself): i know it
Joy Johnson: babe i think it will be better u send the money
now because of the time difference
(myself): no way.. you need to give me some reason to believe
you.. I mean.. I WANT to believe you.. but there's evidence that you
are not in Nigeria, sorry
(myself): give me one reason that shows me you're really over
there and not in the UK or somewhere in the USA
Joy Johnson: the one reason is that am going to pick
the money up myself
(myself): i need to know a bit more about you
Joy Johnson: u did already......dont be silly peter....dont tell
me u dont know the first thing about me
Joy Johnson:
(myself): not really that much.. you've got a daughter, work
for united gemstones, stepfather is your boss (right?), doesn't
send you money (allowance instead of paycheck - strange concept),
you recently came from Barcelona/ Spain to Lagos/ Nigeria
(myself): did i forget anything?
Joy Johnson: No.....what else peter....cant u just trust me for
.... i will never disappoint u
(myself): why do you stay in Lagos if you don't get paid anyway?
Joy Johnson: i dont stay here,am heree temporary cos my step dad wants
me there......its not want i want,i just have to
Joy Johnson: peter
Joy Johnson: If I ever saw an angel, it was in your eyes
(myself): hm, that's a nice one
(myself): did my eyes reflect and you saw yourself?
(myself):
(myself): i've got an idea
(myself): is the 750 for the hotel?
Joy Johnson: eah
Joy Johnson: yeah
Joy Johnson: Jede Minute, die ich mit Ihnen aufwende, ist wie Sein im
Himmel und das Schauen in den Augen eines Engels
Joy Johnson: u know thats the truth
(myself): i could make a credit card payment to that hotel to
cover your bill
Joy Johnson: no....u cant...cos the whole of 750 is not for the hotel
Joy Johnson: ok....u just have to rush to western union....ok
Joy Johnson: do u have he info writen down
Joy Johnson: ??????
(myself): i cannot leave right now
(myself): i'm waiting for someone
(myself): it's 6:15pm
(myself): they're probably closed already anyway
Joy Johnson: no they close for 7pm....u can just rush ok....peter
do this for me now
Joy Johnson: ok.....i can get everything cleared tomorrow morning
Joy Johnson: it will only take 7mins or less for western union to
send the money
(myself): my friend is on the way right now
Joy Johnson: it dosent matter.since u r not going to take more than
10mins in western union...he can just wait for u
Joy Johnson: PLEASE
Joy Johnson: RITE AID #5966
1475 41ST AVENUE
CAPITOLA, CA 95010
Tuesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Joy Johnson: u can just rush down and you wont take much time
Joy Johnson: PLEASE
(myself): I know the place, I go there twice a week..
(myself): why not a credit card payment?
Joy Johnson: it cant be sent
Joy Johnson: just go ok...for me peter
(myself): what is the $ for if not for the hotel?
Joy Johnson: for the hotel bill ,transportation cost.....
and medical checkup because of the weather here
Joy Johnson: ok.babe just try and go huh
(myself): nah, i don't feel as if i could quite trust
you yet
Joy Johnson: matbe u will trust me and more about me,as
soon as i get to the state
Joy Johnson: and peter if u say u dont trust me yet i understand
......but u just have to consider my situation and me myself i
promise never to let u down
Joy Johnson: Promise
BUZZ!!!
Joy Johnson: are u there???
(myself): yes
(myself): phone
(myself): look
Joy Johnson: look what???
(myself): according to my info you're either in
Cape Missouri or London
(myself): and you give me absolutely no reason why
i should believe that you're in lagos
(myself): not even a hotel's name
(myself): or a phone #
Joy Johnson: ay hotels.....manager s # (+234)8053601940
Joy Johnson: +234 country phone code
Joy Johnson: what about this
Joy Johnson: ???
BUZZ!!!
(myself): yeah?
Joy Johnson: didu get it
(myself): the number is busy
(myself): which room are you in?
Joy Johnson: busy...maybe its the network
Joy Johnson: executive room 1
Joy Johnson: ok
Joy Johnson: did u call d # again
(myself): that number is in Lagos?
Joy Johnson: yeah
(myself): area code is 805 ?
(myself): because i thought Lagos is area code 1
(myself): sweety, you need to improve
Joy Johnson: for landlines i think
Joy Johnson: 01 is for the land lines....the number i
gave u is a mobile # peter
Joy Johnson: thats why u need the +234 b4 dailing 8053601940
Joy Johnson: ok
BUZZ!!!
Joy Johnson: peter can u tell me whats on your mind
Joy Johnson: cos........its like u dont even want
to take me for my words
BUZZ!!!
Joy Johnson: Why?
BUZZ!!!
(myself): sorry
Joy Johnson: u not answering me
(myself): my friend was at the door
(myself): joy i need to go now
(myself): i cannot call that number again, my friend and i are going out
Joy Johnson: ok
(myself): i'll try in a few hours when i'm back
Joy Johnson: ok
(myself): see, i need to verify that what you tell me
is true.. ideally also that you are really that hot chick in
those photos, but that's probably impossible to prove
Joy Johnson: lol......why not
(myself): hm, can you mail another photo of yourself?
Joy Johnson: believe me or noy ,its joy in the pic
(myself): well, are YOU Joy then?
Joy Johnson: i will............will u send on ur way back
(myself): bye-bye
Joy Johnson: bye-bye

I agree with most of, Your posting but there are a few things that
should be clarified.
To begin with despite what, You see on this site and other sites.
The fact is there are more scams coming out of Russia than Africa.
The numbers posted here show a graph of that fact.
The worst part is that means while there are hundreds of scammers
operating out of Africa that are even more from Russia.
There are other Countries that are active as well.
Also a web cam is no way to be sure if its a scam or not anymore.
Scammers use stolen videos to fake web cam appearances.
The FBI gets many reports of scams every day.
But in reality the Countries these scammers operate out of must take
action. If a American gets caught doing this they go to jail.
These scammers are allowed to get away with it many times because
of Government Corruption.
Obama couldn't find, His own butt with both hands.
He is a fool that is being made to look like, He's something.
He is destroying the US with every passing Day.
As for YouTube there are many videos about scams already there.
Your Preaching to the Choir here.
All the things, You mentioned are being done.
This type of crime will only stop when all the Nations crack down on this.
Nigeria has the 419 law code to arrest scammers but they are reluctant
to use it very much. The people that are Relatives or friends to the
scammers attack the Police when they make a raid to arrest scammers.
There are scammers that are in the US, Canada, UK.
They manipulate their victims into believing they are in Africa when in fact
they are not. There are scammers who with the help of their partners
commit scams while their partners are in different Countries.
Just because, You think someone is in Africa scamming, You doesn't
mean anything anymore.
I always warn people that if, Your contacted by anyone from West Africa,
Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Gold Coast, Ivory Coast, All of West Africa
its a scam. Thats just a rule of thumb.
The truth is much more complicated than that.
But the fact still remains if anyone White or Black contacts, You
and claims any connection to West Africa its a scam.
It is also just common sense if a guy is contacted by a Beautiful Woman
who suddenly in two or three e mails Say's she Loves him its a scam.
No good looking Woman White or Black needs to look for Love on line.

one called me becuase i hesistated to dial the number while I googled. She then hastily called me and she had a huge accent. Now, I am concerned and thought of questions to ask that only Americans will now easily. It works! better to be single sometimes! lol

2009-06-13, 13:39:52

anonymous from United States

Thanks, his email was murr_luv@yahoo.com

2009-06-15, 02:37:10 (updated: 2009-06-15, 02:51:29)

Fred from Germany

2009-06-12, 14:31:20
anonymous from United States

used to be, but nowadays webcam can be faked
beware

2009-06-15, 23:28:38

pmagiclife@aol.com from United States

Dear Agent 86,
Thank you for your appreciated advice. Any scammer reading this can keep an eye over their shoulder and can kiss my ass through prison bars. I have eyes all over. You all will be brought down, one by one, for as long as it takes. Even those of you pretending to help victims recover their loses. Your penelty should be doubled.
Also, agent 86, I am not concerned with them knowing that email address. That address in fact, belonged to scammer PETER COTTON. Through the will of God, I was given the tools to obtain access to this account. You would be so proud of the way in which I accomplished the feat. Like to discuss that with you one day. All files and emails were copied and accessible. Then were all deleted from the site. PETER COTTON was granted access to the site for a day so that he could see his masterpieces destroyed. But being I had the security question, Peter was denied future access. He can still be accessed via Yahoo.
Another thing realized, His initial letters were gramatically correct, well written, and heartfelt. Once those 'templates' were no longer available, Peter's writing became poorly written, and many ESL errors (both in usage and spelling).
As I stated, the account contained over 146 contacts, ALL women. I used HIS account to notify each of those woman about the truth of con man PETER COTTON. Some had phone numbers, so I actually saved woman with the intent of sending money that very day. The fortunate ones caught onto his scheme from the onset of communication with him. Others, it took a while, but soon learned. And many were deceived into actually sending money via Western Union to Victoria Islands, Lagos, Nigeria to the name PETER COTTON.
Peter has approximately 4 cell phones with UK Numbers and at least 4 with Nigeria numbers. He even has at least one USA phone number. I can publish all of them if you wish as well as his Yahoo account name. But he will only get a new one. But Peter hates change.
Under the cone of silence, I would be able to discuss several more relevent details concerning Mr. Magiclife. I have news for Mr. Magic, I know a little magic myself that will make him disappear. Abbracadabra Peter!
Agent 86, I leave you now, for I have to get up early for work because I EARN MY MONEY THE HONEST WAY!
Love and God Bless,
Angel
P.S. 99 sends her love.

2009-06-15, 23:47:57

anonymous from United States

Agent 86
I am sorry abount the coincidental names. I use that as my alias for I believe God helped me help others. Therefore I was an 'angel' or a tool of God.
Again, I am not afraid of any con man/scammer knowing that email, for it was not created on my account. In fact, they can feel free to write me, because I will gain access to theirs. 'Go ahead, make my day.' It was created under PETER COTTON's aol account. HaHa!!!! What Kaos! Lol
Angel
P.S. Thanks for serving! Pops was a KWV.

2009-06-17, 13:27:57

anonymous

Here is another one for the records.
Name: Elvira
Email: lonelykitten28@yahoo.com
Clams love instant and dose the I need money for this and that to come see you and never shows up.

Ohh and she uses the personals at yahoo to find her victums.

Enjoy

Keywords:

2009-06-19, 14:33:37

anonymous from United States

I have been dealing over just the last few days with this same Garry Bluefields. He claims he has two Rs in his name, but everything comes up in his e-mail info with only one R. Same exact story - wife cheated on him, he caught her in the act, fainted, and while he was in the hospital she took off, never to be found. So he was thrown in jail and convicted of something to do with her disappearance - had to pay $50,00, and how bad it hurt him. Claims he hasn't been out with a woman for 5 years because of the hurt, but that he is ready now and it is with ME! Claims this morning that he was in love with me (after only 3 days of chatting) and couldn't wait to meet me. He owned an antique business where he buys and sells furniture, gold and diamonds, and that his 16 year old son is studying in Nigeria and about to graduate in Finance. Wants to incorporate his life with mine, etc. Yeah, I BET he does! I made the mistake of sending him photos, including of my kids. I am so VERY HAPPY about this site as God only knows how far he would have gone.

He is charming and whosever photos he has are dashing. It is easy to get drawn in by this guy. Except, everything that was pre-written, like in his e-mails, was in perfect English. But in all of our IMs, his English was consistently broken with horrible grammar. And he cut and pasted certain catch phrases that were in his original profile. Seemed like he awas communicating with many people at the same time as he was IMing me.

What a snake. Thank you for this site!

2009-06-20, 07:48:17 (updated: 2009-06-20, 07:49:23)

anonymous from Colombia

ANOTHER SCAMMER SAYING THEN WHAT I HAVE TO PAY 1000 EUROS FOR A PACKAGE WITH MONEY, IT IS A FRAUD I AM SURE